Gen. Petraeus Heeds Pelican Parts OT Liberals

[hunter914]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/08/iraq.petraeus/index.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The new commander of U.S. troops in Iraq has warned that military force alone will not be enough to quell the country's violent insurgency.

Speaking publicly Thursday for the first time since taking charge in Baghdad last month, Gen. David Petraeus said military action was necessary to improve security in Iraq but "not sufficient" to end violence altogether.

"There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to the insurgency of Iraq," Petraeus told a news conference, adding that political negotiations were crucial to forging any lasting peace.

Petraeus said talks should include "some of those who have felt the new Iraq did not have a place for them," and said a key challenge facing Iraq's government was to identify "reconcilable" militant groups and bring them inside the political process.

Petraeus took charge of the 140,000-strong U.S. force in Iraq last month. Since a successful invasion in 2003, which quickly overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime, U.S. forces have become bogged down by a combination of attacks by terrorist groups such as al Qaeda in Iraq and bloody sectarian fighting between Sunni and Shiite Iraqis.

On Thursday Petraeus said he saw no need to bolster troop numbers beyond reinforcements announced by the White House for a renewed effort to improve security in Baghdad and Anbar province. But he warned those troops committed to the campaign would likely remain in place "beyond the summer."

"This endeavor will take months -- not days or weeks to implement," he said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday announced plans to send almost 5,000 additional troops to Iraq to serve as military police, bringing the planned "surge" to 26,000.

"Right now we do not see other requests (for troops) looming out there. That's not to say that some emerging mission or emerging task will not require that, and if it does then we will ask for that," Petraeus said.

Democratic leaders in Congress have criticized the Bush administration's decision to send extra troops to Iraq and called on the White House to announce a timetable for American withdrawal. (Full story)

Iraqi civilian safety would be a top priority during the security crackdown, Petraeus said, warning that militants had sought to intensify sectarian violence in anticipation of the U.S.-led security crackdown.

"As citizens feel safer, conditions will be set for the resumption and improvement of basic services," Petraeus said.

Petraeus' concerns about civilian safety come amidst a week filled with bloody attacks meted against Shiite pilgrims by militants he called "thugs with no soul."

More than 170 have been killed and nearly 300 wounded while making a religious journey -- many by foot -- to the holy city of Karbala to celebrate the holy day of Arbayeen, which falls on Saturday. (Full story)

[Rearden]

"The new commander of U.S. troops in Iraq has warned that military force alone will not be enough to quell the country's violent insurgency."

Is that not obvious to anybody who pays attention?

[wludavid]

Originally posted by Rearden
"The new commander of U.S. troops in Iraq has warned that military force alone will not be enough to quell the country's violent insurgency."

Is that not obvious to anybody who pays attention?

That's a blatant lie. Force will solve any problem, as long as you're willing to use enough of it.

[kang]

Originally posted by wludavid
That's a blatant lie. Force will solve any problem, as long as you're willing to use enough of it.

Let me amend that:

Force will solve any problem, for the short term, as long as you're willing to use enough of it. It can also solve any problem for the long term if you are willing to apply it forever. In both cases, you must accept complete responsibility for your use of force.

[Jim Richards]

Ah yes, the marvel of the tiny atom.

[Superman]

Originally posted by Rearden
"The new commander of U.S. troops in Iraq has warned that military force alone will not be enough to quell the country's violent insurgency."

Is that not obvious to anybody who pays attention?

The key phrase is "....to anybody who pays attention."

[Superman]

Originally posted by wludavid
That's a blatant lie. Force will solve any problem, as long as you're willing to use enough of it.

David, if you're trying to illustrate a ridiculous position by cariacaturizing it, you will be disappointed. Some of the guys here will not see this as irony or even sarcasm or caricaturization. They really think we're pursuing the right strategy in Iraq, and that we simply have not killed enough people there yet. I'm not kidding. They really think that.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Superman
They really think we're pursuing the right strategy in Iraq, and that we simply have not killed enough people there yet. I'm not kidding. They really think that.

You are forgetting Iran. We have yet to have crossed their borders and started killing them. Then everything will be all right and we will be on the path of absolution.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
You are forgetting Iran. We have yet to have crossed their borders and started killing them. Then everything will be all right and we will be on the path of absolution.

You won't believe how bad things become in America if Iran is attacked by either the US government or Israel. Really, you won't.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by Superman
David, if you're trying to illustrate a ridiculous position by cariacaturizing it, you will be disappointed. Some of the guys here will not see this as irony or even sarcasm or caricaturization. They really think we're pursuing the right strategy in Iraq, and that we simply have not killed enough people there yet. I'm not kidding. They really think that.

The answer is not simply killing enough people, it is killing enough of the right people.

[hytem]

Originally posted by wludavid
That's a blatant lie. Force will solve any problem, as long as you're willing to use enough of it.

You must be joking.

[hytem]

Originally posted by fintstone
The answer is not simply killing enough people, it is killing enough of the right people.

Well, I suppose we could put labels on the ones that are supposed to be killed. That would make it easier for the troops.